Six things you must do in... Copenhagen

Copenhagen is riding on a wave of accolades. The sparkling Danish capital has picked up a host of recommendations as one of the places to visit this year for its high design, boutique hotels, organic restaurants and fairytale appeal as home to a certain Little Mermaid.

Gareth Huw Davies checked the many virtues of the world's first Bike City. This is his must-do list.

1. Meet Mike the bike

Copenhagen, easily reached by night sleeper from the UK via Cologne (http://bahn.hafas.de), is on the European Commission's shortlist for the first European Green Capital Award. We will know the winner on February 23.

It scored high for excellent public transport, open spaces and air quality. The International Cycling Union named it the world's first Bike City. Bike With Mike is one of the best outfits offering cycle tours in English (www.bikecopenhagenwithmike.dk).

Bikes are available free at city-centre stands. The 24-hour (£24) and 72-hour (£52) CPHCard gives free transport by train, bus and Metro and free entry to 60 museums. And there are canal trips from Nyhavn.

Best wheels forward: Copenhagen is a city that rewards exploration by bicycle

2. Nordic nosh

Denmark is a gastronomic black hole. Only the pastry made it to the outside world. For the best cuisine, rediscover long-neglected regional ingredients in Copenhagen restaurants laden with Michelin stars.

The latest architectural landmark seems to have been carved out of the sky. Approach the stunning new Concert Hall (Koncerthuset), which opened last month, from the front and by night for the full effect. Images are projected on to a screen on the vast blue facade. Inside it is all concrete walls and shiny steel floors. The other cultural wonder is Copenhagen Opera House, opened in 2005. The ceiling is adorned with 105,000 sheets of gold leaf. Both do guided tours (www.dr.dk/Koncert huset, www.operahus.dk).

4. Shock of the chic

I've been in awe of Danish design since I bought an early Bang & Olufsen gramophone, so it's a thrill to see this skill spread across an entire city. Saunter along Stroget, Europe's longest pedestrian shopping street, and explore the side streets for sleek boutiques. Then you can savour Danish design first-hand in one of the many stylish hotels. The retro Hotel Alexandra is full of classic designer furniture. It holds The Green Key - a mark of eco-excellence. Also for eco-friends is youth hostel Sleep-in-Green, with solar panels and organic breakfasts.

5. Sound thinking

The immense Oresund Bridge, opened in 2000, soars out of the city, carrying road and rail from Denmark to Sweden. It is one of the longest in the world.

Try it out with the 'Around the Sound' ticket (£25) which gives unlimited two-day, twocountry rail travel. Use it to ride the bridge into Sweden, then cross back into Denmark on the ferry from Helsingborg to Helsingor (Elsinore), where you can visit Kronborg Castle, Shakespeare's setting for Hamlet. It is 25 miles back to Copenhagen.

Another good out-of-town trip (about 30 minutes) is the Viking Ship Museum at Roskilde (www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk). It has five ships excavated from Roskilde Fjord.

6. Live the fairy tale

Copenhagen is sprinkled in stardust. The grand master of fairy tales, Hans Christian Andersen, loved it so much he reserved a second birthday marking the day he arrived here. There are links across the city to the man who gave the world such enduring stories as The Princess And The Pea, The Ugly Duckling and The Emperor's New Clothes. See his restored attic room in the city's Magasin department store. He had three addresses among the multicoloured, 17th Century, gabled buildings of Nyhavn (New Harbour).

The whole district is restored, full of restaurants and cafes. Go to Tivoli Gardens, inspiration for The Nightingale, around nightfall for the full magic. And try to take your first sight of Den Lille Havfrue (the Little Mermaid), at Langelinie Pier, under moonlight. For Andersen walks visit www.copenhagen-walkingtours.dk.